Since 1998, more than 900 children have died from vehicular heatstroke - an average of 38 per year - and 53% of incidents involve a parent or caregiver forgetting the child was in the vehicle. Parents and caregivers can act immediately to end these preventable deaths.
Free Online Course: Children in Hot Cars
Educate yourself and everyone you know about this danger. The National Safety Council offers a free online course about the danger of vehicular heatstroke and children, the three primary circumstances that have led to children dying and what we all can do to prevent these deaths. One child is too many.
Complete and share this training now. It is also available in Spanish. You will be required to create an account. A certificate of completion is provided at the end of the training.
How Does It Happen?
Circumstances resulting in pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths (1998-2020). Source: NoHeatStroke.org.Even on mild or cloudy days, temperatures inside vehicles can reach life-threatening levels. Leaving windows slightly open doesn't help. Children should never be left unattended or be able to get inside a vehicle.
Three primary circumstances resulting in deaths of children in hot cars are:
- A caregiver forgetting a child in a vehicle
- The child gaining access to the vehicle
- Someone knowingly leaving a child in the vehicle
NSC advises parents and caregivers to stick to a routine and avoid distractions to reduce the risk of forgetting a child. Place a purse, briefcase or even a left shoe in the back seat to force you to take one last look before walking away. Keep car doors locked so children cannot gain access, and teach them that cars are not play areas. There is no safe amount of time to leave a child in a vehicle, even if you are just running a quick errand.
Free Resources
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A Legislative Look
In 2018, NSC released a groundbreaking report on pediatric vehicular heatstroke (PVH) titled, Kids in Hot Cars; a Legislative Look Across the U.S.
In an effort to better understand and document this risk, NSC works with partner experts, including Jan Null, a certified consulting meteorologist and adjunct professor at San Jose State University. Mr. Null has tracked child deaths resulting from vehicular heatstroke back to 1998, and his work provides the basis for data and information in this report.
The objectives of the report are to:
- Support stronger laws to protect children from being knowingly left unattended in vehicles
- Increase awareness and understanding of vehicle heating dynamics
- Increase awareness of the risk of children gaining access to vehicles on their own
- Encourage policies for childcare providers
- Recommend study of factors that contribute to unknowingly leaving a child in a vehicle
The report also features a first-hand account of a father who lost his beloved daughter.
As of October 2020, an average of 38 children die needlessly this way every year, and it can happen to anyone. Please read and share this life-saving information.
Technology Can be Part of the Solution
NSC supports efforts to use technology to prevent children from being forgotten in vehicles. Without offering an endorsement of any vehicle or product, NSC provides the following information as examples to help parents and guardians protect their most precious passengers:
- Rear Seat Reminder: If a rear door is opened and closed within 10 minutes before the vehicle is started, or is opened and closed while the vehicle is running, five chimes will sound and a message will display on the instrument panel when the vehicle shuts off to remind the driver to check the rear seat. This technology was made available on several 2017 GM vehicles, and variations are now available among different vehicles.
- Car Seat Technology: This technology generates a series of tones activated through a "smart" chest clip and wireless receiver to remind the driver that a child is in the rear seat within two seconds of turning off the vehicle. This technology was first made available by Evenflo.
